Soil sample procuring tool and method of preparing soil sample for analysis

ABSTRACT

A tool for withdrawing a soil sample comprising a frame member including a portion including spaced vertically extending legs having lower ends, a foot portion fixed to the lower ends of the legs and including a horizontally extending slot defined by a vertically extending wall including a horizontally extending groove, and an abutment surface extending horizontally and located between the legs in upwardly spaced relation from the foot portion.

RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of Reissue application Ser. No.10/050,800 having a filing date of Jan. 9, 2002, now abandoned, which isa reissue of Ser. No. 08/980,904 having a filing date of Dec. 1, 1997,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,724.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to soil sampling, to tools forextracting a soil sample from the ground, and to methods of procuringand handling a soil sample until subsequent analysis.

The invention also relates to methods and apparatus for procuring andhandling soil samples containing volatile components, such as gasolineor other ground contaminants.

Attention is directed to the following U.S. Patents:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,547, Herkness, II, issued Feb. 12, 1985    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,392, Clements, issued Dec. 13, 1988    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,790, Manchak, Jr., issued Mar. 7, 1989    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,000, Gibson et al., issued Aug. 7, 1990    -   U.S. Pat. No. 4,989,678, Thompson, issued Feb. 5, 1991    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,624, Clay, issued Aug. 13, 1991    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,425, Robbins, issued Sep. 25, 1991    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,845, Robbins, issued Aug. 25, 1992    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,263, Kejr et al., issued Feb. 16, 1993    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,771, Turriff et al., issued Sep. 6, 1994    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,781, Kitchen et al., issued Sep. 6, 1994    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,262, Piasio et al., issued Jan. 24, 1995    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,913, Mefferd et al., issued Sep. 19, 1995    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,098, Turriff et al, issued Apr. 9, 1996    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,868, Turriff et al., issued May 21, 1996    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,271, Turriff et al., issued Jun. 4, 1996    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,538, Bratton, issued Dec. 24, 1996    -   U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,139, Wittig et al., issued Feb. 25, 1997

Attention is also directed to the following publications:

-   -   “Modified DRO Method for Determining Diesel Range Organics”, pp.        1-26; PUBL-SW-141; Wisconsin DNR, September 1995    -   “Modified GRO Method for Determining Gasoline Range Organics”,        pp. 1-33; PUBL-SW-140; Wisconsin DNR, September 1995    -   Chapter NR 149 (NR 149.03) “Laboratory Certification and        Registration”, pp. 365-367, Register, November, 1996, No. 491    -   NR 700.11 “Sample Preservation and Analysis”, Wisconsin        Administrative Code NR 700.11, page 6, Register, February, 1997,        No. 494

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method for taking a soil sample, which methodcomprises the steps of providing a hollow member having an open end,forcing the open end of the hollow member into the ground to locate asoil sample in the hollow member, ejecting the soil sample from thehollow member and into a sealable vial, sealing the vial, thereafterinjecting methanol or other suitable organic material capturing agentinto the vial without opening the vial, and thereafter analyzing thecontents of the vial.

The invention also provides a method of taking a soil sample, whichmethod comprises the steps of providing a hollow member having an openend, a plunger housed in the hollow member, and a sealable vial having aself-sealing penetrable part, forcing the open end of the hollow memberinto the ground to locate a soil sample in the hollow member, promptlyejecting the soil sample from the hollow member by the plunger and intothe sealable vial, promptly sealing the vial, thereafter injectingthrough the penetrable part a first quantity of methanol into the vial,shake for fifteen seconds and thereafter adding to the vial a secondquantity of methanol, if necessary, such that the total volume ofmethanol in milliliters in the vial is equal to the weight in grams ofthe soil sample in the vial, and analyzing the contents of the vial.

The invention also provides a tool for withdrawing a soil sample, thetool including a frame member having spaced upright legs and a footportion fixed to the lower ends of the legs. The foot portion includes aslot adopted to removably house a horizontal flange projecting from theupper end of an elongated hollow cylindrical member. The elongatedcylindrical member is open at its lower end and is adapted to be forcedinto the ground. In one form of the invention, the elongated cylindricalmember can be a syringe having the end removed. The tool also includes aplunger member housed in the elongated hollow cylindrical member andhaving an upper projecting end located between the legs of the framemember. The plunger is supported for slideable movement within thehollow member and includes an upper end engageable with the abutmentportion of the frame member to restrict the extent of upward movement ofthe plunger member during insertion of the tubular member into theground. The apparatus of the invention also includes a vial forreceiving a soil sample from the elongated cylindrical member, the vialincluding a removable cap having a septum. The septum is intended topermit injection of methanol or other organic capturing agent into thevial without opening the vial.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon review of the following detaileddescription, claims and drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool for withdrawing a soil sample,which tool incorporates various of the features of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of a hollow member and aplunger member included in the tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a portion ofthe tool shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a vial or container employed in a methodin accordance with the invention.

Before one embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of the construction and the arrangements of components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings is a tool 11 for withdrawing a soilsample 13, which tool 11 comprises a frame member 15 including aninverted U-shaped handle or guard portion 17, an elongated hollow member19 adapted to be inserted into the ground and extending downwardly fromthe frame member 17 and, a plunger member 21 located, in part, withinthe frame member 15 and, in part, for slideable movement within thehollow member 19.

More particularly, the frame member 15 can be fabricated of any suitablestrong and rigid material, such as plastic or metal, and includeshorizontally spaced upright legs 23 and 25 having upper and lower ends27 and 29, and a bridge 31 connecting the upper ends 27 of the legs 23and 25.

In addition, the frame member 15 includes a foot portion 35 fixed to thelower ends 29 of the legs 23 and 25 and including, as best shown in FIG.4, an outer perimeter 37 extending laterally beyond the spaced legs 23and 25 and a slot 39 defined by a vertically extending wall 41. The slot41 includes an entry part 45, and a semi-circular part 47 which extendsfrom the entry part 45 and is located between the legs 23 and 25. Moreparticularly, while other constructions can be employed, in thedisclosed construction, the vertically extending wall 41 includes a pairof horizontally spaced straight and parallel portions 51 and 53 whichdefine the entry part 45 and which include inner ends 55, and asemi-circular portion 61 which defines the semi-circular part 47 andwhich extends about an axis 63 and from the inner ends 55 of thestraight portions 51 and 53 of the vertically extending wall 41.

The slot 39 also includes a groove 71 which is located in the verticallyextending wall 41 and which extends horizontally. More particularly,while other constructions can be employed, in the disclosedconstruction, the groove 71 includes a pair of horizontally spacedstraight and parallel portions 73 and 75 which are respectively locatedin the straight portions 51 and 53 of the vertically extending wall 41and which respectively include inner ends. Still more particularly, thestraight portions 73 and 75 of the groove 71 respectively include innervertically extending straight wall surfaces 83 and 85 spacedhorizontally from the straight portions 51′ and 53 of the verticallyextending wall 41 at a first distance.

In addition, the groove 71 includes a circular portion 89 located in thesemi-circular portion 61 of the vertically extending inner wall 41 andextending from the inner ends of the straight portions 73 and 75 of thegroove 71. More particularly, the circular portion 89 of the groove 71has an inner vertically extending cylindrical wall surface 91 extendingat a common radius from the axis 63 of the semi-cylindrical portion 61of the slot 39 and spaced horizontally form the semi-cylindrical portion61 of the vertically extending wall 41 at a second distance greater thanthe first distance, i.e., greater than the spacing of the straight wallsurfaces 83 and 85 from the straight wall portions 51 and 53 of the wall41.

Still further in addition, the frame member 15 includes (see FIG. 1) anabutment portion 95 which includes a horizontally extending cross member96 which is fixed to and extends from and between the legs 23 and 25 inupwardly spaced relation from the foot portion 35 and which includestherein a vertically extending threaded bore 97.

Threadedly and adjustably received in the threaded bore 97 is anabutment member 99 which can take any suitable form and which, in thedisclosed construction, is in the form of a bolt 101 including a head103 located below the horizontal cross member 96, and a threaded stem105 which extends upwardly from the head 103 and is threadedly engagedin the threaded bore 97 in the horizontal cross member 96. The head 103of the bolt 101 includes a lower surface 107 constituting an abutmentsurface which will be referred to hereinafter. Accordingly, the locationof the abutment surface 107 can be varied relative to the frame member15. The abutment portion 95 can also include a set screw 109 to preventinadvertent displacement of the bolt 101 in the cross member 96.

The elongated hollow member 19 can be fabricated of any suitablematerial and, in the disclosed construction, is fabricated of clearplastic material and is preferably sturdy and thin walled. While otherconstructions can be employed, in the disclosed construction, theelongated hollow member 19 is cylindrically shaped and includes an axiswhich, when the hollow member 19 is assembled with the frame member 15,is coincident with the axis 63. Still more particularly, the elongatedhollow member 19 includes (see FIG. 2) an inner cylindrical wall orsurface 111, open upper and lower ends 113 and 115, and a flange 119extending horizontally outwardly from the upper end 113 and removablylocated in the groove 71 formed in the slot 39 of the foot portion 35 ofthe frame member 15.

More particularly, while other constructions can be employed, in thedisclosed construction, the flange 119 includes a pair of horizontallyspaced straight and parallel edges 121 and 123 which are horizontallyspaced at a distance slightly less than the horizontal spacing betweenthe straight wall surfaces 83 and 85 of the groove 71. In addition, theflange 119 includes a pair of opposed circular edges 125 and 127 whichextend from and between the straight edges 121 and 123 in concentricrelation to the axis of the hollow cylindrical member 19 and which arespaced horizontally from the axis of the cylindrical member 19 at adistance slightly less than the horizontal spacing of cylindrical wallsurface 91 of the groove 71 from the axis 63 of the semi-cylindricalpart 47 of the slot 39 in the foot 35 of the frame member 15.

If desired, a legend 129 indicating the volume of the soil sample 13 canbe provided axially on the elongated hollow member 19.

The plunger member 21 can be fabricated of any suitable material and, inthe disclosed construction, is fabricated of clear plastic material andincludes upper and lower ends 131 and 133, and, at the lower end 133thereof, a piston 135 which resiliently and sealingly engages the innerwall 111 of the elongated hollow member 19. In addition, the plungermember 21 includes, at the upper end 131 thereof, a horizontallyextending portion or cap 141 which is engageable with the abutmentsurface 107 on the bolt 101 which is adjustably carried by the framemember 15, thereby to prevent unwanted upward movement of the plungermember 21 during insertion of the elongated hollow member 19 into theground or soil.

Still more particularly, while other constructions can be employed, inthe disclosed construction, the plunger member 21 includes a stem 151which extends downwardly from the upper end 131 thereof, and which has across shaped horizontal cross-section and vertically extending edges 153engaging the inner wall 111 of the elongated hollow member 19 so as toguide movement of the plunger member 21 relative to the elongated hollowmember 19.

In a further preferred form of the invention, the elongated hollowmember can comprise a suitable plastic medical syringe with the lowerend cut off. The elongated hollow member can thus comprise a veryinexpensive disposable component.

In use, the assembly of the elongated hollow member 19, with the plungermember 21 partially inserted therein, is located in the tool 11 bysliding the flange 119 of the elongated hollow member 19 into the groove71 formed in the slot 39 in the foot portion 35 of the frame member 15and so that the cap or horizontally extending portion 141 of the plungermember 21 is located below the abutment surface 107 of the frame member15. As thus assembled, the plunger member 21 is generally locatedbetween the legs 23 and 25 of the frame member 15 and the hollowelongated member 19 extends outwardly of and downwardly from the footportion 35 of the frame member 15. When thus assembled, the elongatedhollow member 19 is fixed against axial movement relative to the framemember 15 by reason of the engagement of the flange 119 in the groove71, and the cap 141 of the plunger member 21 is located for movementupwardly until engagement with the abutment surface 107 of the framemember 15, thereby limiting upward movement of the plunger member 21relative to the elongated hollow member 19.

The elongated hollow member 19 supported by the tool 11 can be forciblyinserted into the soil or ground, with the soil or ground entering intothe hollow interior of the tubular member 19 and engaging the piston 135and the plunger member 21 to displace them upwardly into engagement withthe abutment surface 107, thereby limiting further entry of soil intothe hollow member 19 to define the soil sample 13 of fixed predeterminedvolume.

Thereafter, the assembly of the elongated hollow member 19 and theplunger member 21 is immediately removed from the frame member 15 andthe plunger member 21 is immediately manipulated to inwardly displacethe plunger member 21 relative to the elongated hollow member 19,thereby displacing the soil sample 13 from the elongated hollow member19. The soil sample 13 is immediately discharged from the hollow member19 into a vial or container 175, which is shown in FIG. 5. The container175 has a larger interior volume than the volume of the soil sample 13,and is sealable so as to prevent loss of any volatile component of thesoil sample 13 and to also prevent interaction between the soil sample13 in interior of the container or vial 175 and the exterior atmosphere.In addition, the vial or container 175 includes a self-sealingpenetrable portion or part which will be referred to hereinafter.

While other constructions can be employed, in the disclosedconstruction, the container or vial 175 is fabricated of plastic andincludes a container portion 177 including an open, exteriorly threadedmouth 179. In addition, the vial or container 175 includes an interiorlythreaded cap portion 181 which can be tightly threaded on the mouth 179of the container portion 177 to seal the contents of the container orvial 175. Preferably, the cap portion 181 is provided, in the topsurface thereof, with a self-sealing diaphragm or septum 185 which canbe penetrated by an injection needle.

After the soil sample is deposited in the container portion 177, the capportion 181 is immediately threaded on the container portion 177 to sealthe container or vial 175.

Thereafter, the sealed container or vial 175 is transported to alaboratory for analysis of the soil sample 13. The diaphragm 185 ispierced by a hypodermic needle, twenty-two gauge or less, (not shown)and a quantity of methanol or other capturing agent is injected into thevial or container 175, which quantity preferably is sufficient tocapture any volatile component in the soil sample 13. The vial can thenbe opened to add to the container or vial 175 a further volume ofmethanol so that the total volume is milliliters of methanol isapproximately equal to the weight in grams of the soil sample 13. Thevial can then be stored until analysis of the soil sample.

Thus, the above described tool 11 is employable in a method of taking asoil sample, which method comprises the steps of providing a hollowmember having an open end, forcing the open end of the hollow memberinto the ground to locate a soil sample in the hollow member, displacingor ejecting the soil sample from the hollow member and directly into asealable container or vial, promptly sealing the container or vial,thereafter injecting methanol or capturing agent into the vial withoutotherwise compromising or disturbing the sealed condition of the vial orcontainer and thereafter analyzing the contents of the vial.

In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes injecting asufficient quantity of methanol into the vial that the volume ofmethanol in milliliters in the vial is approximately equal to the weightin grams of the soil sample in the vial.

Various of the features are set forth in the following claims.

1. A method of taking a soil sample, said method comprising the steps ofproviding a hollow member having an open end, a plunger housed in thehollow member, and a sealable vial having a self-sealing penetrablepart, forcing the open end of the hollow member into the ground tolocate a soil sample in the hollow member, ejecting the soil sample fromthe hollow member by the plunger and into the sealable vial, sealing thevial, thereafter injecting through the penetrable part a first quantityof capturing agent into the vial, shake for fifteen seconds, thereafterintroducing a second quantity of capturing agent into the vial, andanalyzing the contents of the vial.
 2. A method of taking a soil samplein accordance with claim 1 and further including providing the hollowmember with a second end spaced form the open end, and an outwardlyextending flange at the second end thereof, providing a tool having aslot including a groove, and inserting the second end of the hollowmember into the slot so as to locate the flange of the hollow member inthe groove.
 3. A tool for withdrawing a soil sample, said toolcomprising a frame member including a portion including spacedvertically extending legs having lower ends, a foot portion fixed tosaid lower ends of said legs and including a horizontally extending slotdefined by a vertically extending wall including a horizontallyextending groove, and an abutment surface extending horizontally andlocated between said legs in upwardly spaced relation from said footportion.
 4. A tool for withdrawing a soil sample, said tool comprising aframe member including an inverted U-shaped guard portion includingspaced upright legs having lower ends, a foot portion fixed to saidlower ends of said legs, and including an outer perimeter extendinglaterally beyond said spaced leg portions, a slot defined by avertically extending wall and including an entry part, and asemi-circular part extending from said entry part and located betweensaid legs, and a groove located in said wall, extending horizontally,and adapted to removably receive a flange at the top end of a hollowmember which, when said flange is received in said groove, extendsdownwardly from said foot portion, which also includes an open lowerend, and which has slideable located therein a plunger member extending,in part, above said hollow member and between said spaced legs andhaving an upper end, and an abutment portion extending horizontally andlocated between said legs in upwardly spaced relation from said footportion, and adapted to engage the upper end of the plunger member tomaintain the plunger member in a predetermined position relative to thehollow member when the flange is received in said annular groove.
 5. Atool for withdrawing a soil sample, said tool comprising a frame memberincluding an inverted U-shaped guard portion including spaced uprightlegs having lower ends, a foot portion fixed to said lower ends of saidlegs and including an outer perimeter extending laterally beyond saidspaced legs, a slot defined by a vertically extending wall and includingan entry part, a semi-circular part extending from said entry part andlocated between said legs, and a groove located in said wall andextending horizontally, and an abutment portion extending horizontallybetween said legs in upwardly spaced relation from said foot portion, anelongated hollow cylindrical member adapted to be inserted into theground, extending downwardly from said foot portion, and including aninner wall, upper and lower ends, and a flange extending horizontallyoutwardly from said upper end and removably located in said groove, anda plunger member located, in part, between said legs and, in part, forslideable movement within said elongated hollow cylindrical member andincluding upper and lower ends, and a piston seal engaging said innerwall of said elongated hollow cylindrical member, and a horizontallyextending portion at said upper end thereof engageable with saidabutment portion of said frame member to prevent upward movement of saidplunger member during insertion of said elongated hollow cylindricalmember into the ground.
 6. A tool in accordance with claim 5 whereinsaid plunger member includes a stem extending downwardly from said upperend thereof and having a cross shaped horizontal cross-section, andvertically extending edges engaging said inner wall of said hollowmember, and a cap located at said upper end, fixed to said stem andincluding said horizontally extending portion.
 7. A tool in accordancewith claim 5 wherein said piston resiliently engages said inner wall ofsaid elongated hollow cylindrical member.
 8. A tool in accordance withclaim 5 wherein said frame member includes a horizontal portionextending from and between said legs, and wherein said abutment portionincludes an abutment member which is adjustably fixed in said horizontalportion.
 9. A tool in accordance with claim 8 wherein said horizontalportion includes a vertically extending threaded bore, and wherein saidabutment member comprises a bolt including a head located below saidhorizontal portion, and a threaded stem extending upwardly from saidhead and threadedly engaged in said threaded bore in said horizontalportion.
 10. A tool in accordance with claim 5 wherein said cylindricalmember includes an axis, and wherein said flange includes a pair ofhorizontally spaced straight edges, and a pair of opposed circular edgesextending from and between said straight edges in concentric relation tosaid axis of said cylindrical member.
 11. A tool in accordance withclaim 5 wherein said vertically extending wall includes a pair ofhorizontally spaced straight portions defining said entry part andincluding inner ends, and a semi-circular portion defining saidsemi-circular part and extending from said inner ends of said straightportions of said vertically extending wall, and wherein said grooveincludes a pair of horizontally spaced straight portions located in saidstraight portions of said vertically extending wall and including innerends, and a circular portion located in said semi-circular portion ofsaid inner wall and extending from said inner ends of said straightportions of said groove.
 12. A tool in accordance with claim 11 whereinsaid cylindrical member includes an axis, wherein said straight portionsof said groove respectively have inner vertically extending straightwall surfaces spaced horizontally from said straight portions of saidvertically extending wall at a first distance, wherein said circularportion of said groove has an inner vertically extending circular wallsurface extending at a constant radius from said axis of saidcylindrical member, concentrically with said axis of said cylindricalmember, and spaced horizontally from said semi-cylindrical portion ofsaid vertically extending wall at a second distance greater than saidfirst distance, and wherein said flange includes a pair of horizontallyspaced straight edges which are horizontally spaced at a distanceslightly less than the horizontal spacing between said straight wallsurfaces of said groove, and a pair of opposed circular edges whichextend concentrically with said axis of said cylindrical member, andwhich are spaced horizontally from said axis of said cylindrical memberat a distance slightly less than the spacing of said circular wallsurface from said axis of said cylindrical member.
 13. A soil samplingdevice comprising: a housing defining an open inner chamber, the housinghaving a first end and a second end; an opening formed in the second endof the housing and defining a passageway from outside the housing to theinner chamber; a groove at least partially surrounding the passageway; atube formed to include a flange, the flange engageable with the grooveto couple the tube to the housing; and a plunger slidably positionedwithin the tube and moveable over a distance between a first positionwherein a tail of the plunger is toward the flange of the tube and asecond position wherein the tail of the plunger is away from the flangeand abuts an abutment surface within the inner chamber of the housing.14. The soil sampling device of claim 13 wherein the distance can bevaried.
 15. A soil sampling device comprising: a housing having a firstand second end and defining an open inner chamber and a longitudinalaxis, the second end of the housing including an opening providing apassageway from outside the housing to the inner chamber; a grooveformed in the opening; an abutment surface positioned within the innerchamber and moveable along the longitudinal axis; a tube formed toinclude a flange engageable with the groove to couple the tube to thehousing; and a plunger slidably positioned within the tube and having anend moveable between a first position toward the flange and a secondposition away from the flange and abutting the abutment surface.
 16. Asoil sampling device comprising: a hollow housing including a moveableabutment surface positioned within the housing; a tube coupled to thehousing; and a plunger having an end, the plunger slidably positionedwithin the tube and moveable between a first position wherein theplunger end abuts the tube and a second position wherein the plunger endabuts the abutment surface.
 17. The soil sampling device of claim 16wherein the tube further includes a flange positioned within a groove inthe housing.
 18. The soil sampling device of claim 16 wherein the firstposition is spaced apart from the second position by an adjustabledistance.
 19. A method of taking a soil sample for volatile-componentanalysis, the method comprising the steps of: providing a hollow memberhaving an open end, forcing the open end of the hollow member into theground to locate a soil sample in the hollow member, ejecting the soilsample from the hollow member and into a sealable vial, sealing the vialwith a cap, the sealed vial having a self-sealing penetrable part,thereafter injecting a capturing agent through the self-sealingpenetrable part into the vial without otherwise disturbing the sealedcondition of the vial, and thereafter analyzing the contents of thevial.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the capturing agent ismethanol.
 21. The method of claim 19 further including storing thesealed vial containing the soil sample and the capturing agent beforethe analyzing step.
 22. The method of claim 19 wherein the hollow memberis an elongated cylindrical member having a plunger housed therein andthe ejecting step comprises sliding the plunger within the hollowmember.
 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising: providing thehollow member with a second end which is spaced from the open end andhas an outwardly extending flange, providing a frame member with a footportion having a flange-receiving groove, and engaging the hollow memberwith the frame member by inserting the flange into the flange-receivinggroove in preparation for the forcing step.
 24. The method of claim 23wherein the plunger has a top end and the frame member supports anadjustable abutment member thereon in position above the plunger top endwhen the hollow member and the frame member are engaged and the methodfurther includes setting a fixed predetermined soil sample volume byadjusting the position of the abutment member.
 25. The method of claim24 further including storing the sealed vial containing the soil sampleand the capturing agent before the analyzing step.
 26. A method oftaking a soil sample from a sample site for volatile-component analysisat a sample processing site, the method comprising the steps of:providing a hollow member having an open end, forcing the open end ofthe hollow member into the ground to locate a soil sample in the hollowmember, ejecting the soil sample from the hollow member into a sealablevial, sealing the vial with a cap, the sealed vial having a self-sealingpenetrable part, before sampling analysis, transporting the sealed vialfrom the sample site to the processing site, injecting a capturing agentinto the vial at the processing site through the self-sealing penetrablepart without otherwise disturbing the sealed condition of the vial, andthereafter analyzing the contents of the vial.
 27. The method of claim26 wherein the capturing agent is methanol.
 28. The method of claim 26further including storing the sealed vial containing the soil sample andthe capturing agent before the analyzing step.
 29. The method of claim26 wherein the hollow member is an elongated cylindrical member having aplunger housed therein and the ejecting step comprises sliding theplunger within the hollow member.
 30. The method of claim 29 furthercomprising: providing the hollow member with a second end which isspaced from the open end and has an outwardly extending flange,providing a frame member with a foot portion having a flange-receivinggroove, and engaging the hollow member with the frame member byinserting the flange into the flange-receiving groove in preparation forthe forcing step.
 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the plunger has atop end and the frame member supports an adjustable abutment memberthereon in position above the plunger top end when the hollow member andthe frame member are engaged and the method further includes setting afixed predetermined soil sample volume by adjusting the position of theabutment member.
 32. The method of claim 31 further including storingthe sealed vial containing the soil sample and the capturing agentbefore the analyzing step.
 33. A method of taking a soil sample forvolatile-component analysis, the method comprising the steps of:removing a soil sample from the earth, inserting the soil sample into asealable vial, sealing the vial with a cap, the sealed vial having aself-sealing penetrable part, thereafter injecting a capturing agentthrough the self-sealing penetrable part into the vial without otherwisedisturbing the sealed condition of the vial, and thereafter analyzingthe contents of the vial.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein thecapturing agent is methanol.
 35. The method of claim 33 furtherincluding storing the sealed vial containing the soil sample and thecapturing agent before the analyzing step.
 36. The method of claim 33wherein the self-sealing penetrable part is positioned on the cap. 37.The method of claim 33 further including the step of shaking the vialafter the capturing agent has been injected.
 38. The device of claim 13wherein the abutment surface prevents movement of the tail away from theflange when the tail abuts the abutment surface.